Title

Gum Affect on Memory

Problem Scenario

I want to know what affect spearmint gum has on somebodys brain.

Broad Question

does gum affect your memory?

Specific Question

What is the affect of chewing spearmint gum have on somebodys memory?

Hypothesis

Chewing gum will help increase somebodys memory. When somebody is chewing spearmint gum and is given a memory test that is simular to day before when they weren't chewing gum then they will remember at least 2 words more words with the spearmint gum.

Graph of Hypothesis

Ercu12-30-hypothesisgraphblock6 resize.jpg

Variables

Independent Variable:

chewing gum

Dependent Variable:

Words remembered

Variables That Need To Be Controlled:

Spearmint gum (gum flavor), quiet space, destraction, word list, time to memorize.

Vocabulary List That Needs Explanation

Memory:

General Plan

Potential Problems And Solutions

if i cant get 12 people to do my experiment twice once with spearmint gum and one with out on different days then my experiment wont be acurrate with just one day for some and two days for other. if i cant get people to do my experiment two days then i will wait a couple of hours for everyone.
another problem could be that i wouldnt have enough gum for everyone. i would solve it by delaying somebody and buying more gum.
lastly if everybody memorizes none of the word during both test then i would have to try on another 12 different people.

Safety Or Environmental Concerns

saftey concerns are: somebody could chook on the gum. they could get a paper cut on the gum rapper.

Experimental Design

(add the correct headings from the experimental design page before beginning)

Resources and Budget Table

Item	Number needed	Where I will get this	Cost
spearmint gum	1 container	walmart	$2
people	12	everywhere	$0
memory test	2	online	$0

Detailed Procedure

Where will you conduct this experiment? If not at school where are you going to put your experiment so that it doesn't bother anyone, you can assure it won't be disrupted by pets or babies, and it it will be safe from changes in temperature or movement?

I will conduct my experiment at home.

What will you actually be doing? For example, measuring something, timing something...

I will be testing to see if somebody is chewing gum if they remember more words then if their not chewing gum.

What are some potential problems you may encounter and how will you solve them?

if i cant get enough people to do my experiment at home. i will sole this by bring the test to school and asking friends and teachers to do my experiment
in the morning or after school.

What are the safety and environmental concerns?

i will make sure nobody if allergic to the type of gum I am giving to them to chew.

Procedure:

Make a list of ten words for a memory test.

List for day 1
horse
sheep
goat
pig
cow
chicken
roaster
duck
goose
turkey

Find 6 boys and 6 girls for experiment
have them read over the test for 1 minute then take test away (describe the test)
give them a destraction for 30sec then collect data on how many words each person remembers
record- write name then how many words remembered
wait a day
use same people 10 boys and same 10 girls
repeat procedure except this time whilw chewing spearmint gum and with next days test

list for day 2
Dog
Cat
Lizard
Snake
Turtle
Hamster
Hen
Rabbit
Bunny
Puppy

put all data collect from both days into a chart/graph

Diagram

Photo List

research graph
people during experiment

Time Line

Experiment date: Feb. 10th, 2013 data will be collected turning the experiment End Date: March 7th

Data Table Words remembered day 1

| Girls | Boys

8/10 6/10
7/10 8/10
6/10 _ 7/10
8/10 10/10
3/107/10
9/10__ 5/10

Words remembered day 2

| Girls | Boys

9/10_ 8/10
8/10_ 8/10
8/10_ 9/10
5/10_ 9/10
6/10_7/10
10/10_9/10

Data Analysis

The first day most people have gotten less then their secound day trying while chewing gum. the girls i noticed mostly remembered more then the guys day one but on the second day while chewing gum guys got more then girls and everybody either got the same or more words while chewing gum.

All Raw Data

Data Table Words remembered day 1

| Girls | Boys

9/10_ 8/10
8/10_ 8/10
8/10_ 9/10
5/10_ 9/10
6/10_7/10
10/10_9/10

Words remembered day 2

| Girls | Boys

9/10_ 8/10
8/10_ 8/10
8/10_ 9/10
5/10_ 9/10
6/10_7/10
10/10_9/10

Graphs

Photos

Results

Conclusion
My hypothesis has been proven wrong. For some people gum can help them focus but for others it can only create a distraction for you. I have fond that some people who cant focus with out gum seem to always have a fidget or something to use so they don't look around the room. People mostly got the same amount right and others got more right.

Discussion

For my experiment i took six boys and six girls and gave them a list of ten words that had to do with house hold animals. i gave them this test and made sure they werent chewing gum. i took one person at a time and let them look over the list of ten words for a minute. after a min they were given a distraction of drawing a clock facing a certan time that i choose. after they finish i took the list of words back and they were to tell me as many words as they remembered. after everybody had done the first test without gum i waited a day and then gave them a simular test with simular types of words for them to try and memorize while they were chewing gum. After i compared my the two days worth of data i figured out that the majority of people remeber the same amount of words both days. a couple people remembered more or less though. my hypothesis was proven wrong. i had stated that everybody would remember atleast two more words while they were chewing gum then when they werent.

Benefit to Community and/or Science

Background Research

your memory isnt in just one part of your brain its all throughout your brain. one side of your brain deals with mathimatical things and the other is for artisic reasoning but both deal with memory. if you use the side with the mathmatical reasoning it stores memory so you can remember math easier. the other part of your brain stores artisic rasoning which holds memory of what each color looks like and ways of seeing things differently. some people have better memory with there more logical side because they dont see things logicaly. others see it differently. chewing gum in some kids minds means that it will help you but others they think it will help when it only istracts them.